If you want to discover the best winter attractions in Milan, this article is for you. We’ve put together a list of things to do in this incredible city, as well as important features to consider about this season.
About winter in Milan
The winter season takes place in December, January and February, and is also characterized as low season in the city. Milan experiences very low temperatures at this time, ranging from -3ºC to 8ºC (undoubtedly one of the most intense winters in Italy).
What to pack? Warm clothes, especially thick coats and woolen clothes. It’s also important to pack gloves, scarves and hats.
Winter holidays in Milan
25/12: Christmas
26/12: St. Stephen
01/01: New Year
06/01: Epiphany
- Important tip: Milan is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
Sights to see during the winter
During this season, the best thing to do is to visit more enclosed places, such as ice-skating rinks, which are common at this time of year. Open-air venues, on the other hand, can be uncomfortable due to the low temperatures.
1. Attend a show at the Scala Theater
This is undoubtedly one of the best experiences you’ll have on your trip to Milan. This place has a neoclassical style in its architecture, creating a special atmosphere for audiences attending a concert or ballet performance.
We recommend that you visit the theater museum on a guided tour, which explains the history of the place, as well as curiosities and other valuable information.
Address: Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milano MI.
2. Visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
The Santa Maria delle Grazie church is famous for housing Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To see the painting you have to pay a separate entrance fee, but you can visit the church for free.
The building is very beautiful, full of paintings and details in its architecture. However, we recommend that you book online in advance, as tickets are very scarce.
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milano MI.
3. Visit Milan Cathedral
Considered one of the largest churches in the world, Milan Cathedral is also very old: it was first built in 1386. Its architecture is also charming and attracts millions of tourists every year. That’s why it’s worth taking a tour of Milan Cathedral and taking lots of photos to mark your trip.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI.
4. Enjoy the ice-skating rinks
An exclusive advantage of winter during the Christmas season is to venture out onto the ice rinks that entertain locals and tourists in Milan. One rink you might want to check out is located in Villagio delle Meraviglie, which is set up in the Indro Montanelli Gardens, right in the city center.
The place is also full of stalls with games and a small traveling amusement park. Perfect for visiting with the family.
5. Visit Milan’s museums
Another way to enjoy winter in the city and learn about the culture and history of Milan and the world is to visit its many museums. We’ve listed some of the main places you can visit here, but there are other great options in this list of the best museums in the city.
Pinacoteca di Brera: this museum is one of the most famous and important in Milan. Founded in 1776, it is located in the Palazzo di Brera and began as a place to collect student academic works. However, with the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French in Italy, the museum began to house many works of art by great artists. It’s well worth a visit.
Address: Via Brera, 28, 20121, Milan.
Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci: opened in 1953, this museum began to be built in 1947 on the site of the San Vittore Monastery, which had been destroyed during the Second World War. Undoubtedly, this museum is very important to the world, as it houses an area exclusively dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci’s projects, with wooden models of his main inventions.
Address: Via San Vittore, 21, 20123, Milan.
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana: part of a complex that also includes the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, both named after St. Ambrose, the city’s patron saint. The museum was founded in 1618 and has been delighting Milanese and tourists from all over the world ever since, housing works by great artists such as Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Titian.
Address: Piazza Pio XI, 2, Milan.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to Milan, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
6. Spending Christmas and New Year in Milan
The New Year’s Eve season in the city is extremely beautiful and unique for those who want a memorable experience. During Christmas, the streets of Milan are extremely enchanting. To give you an idea, in the popular Piazza del Duomo an immense Christmas tree is set up, approximately 30 meters high.
In addition, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery has its dome completely decorated with twinkling lights and also hosts a Christmas tree, which is decorated with delicate crystals.
On New Year’s Eve, the city bustles with parties in the streets, where citizens gather to celebrate the new year together. The main celebration takes place in Piazza del Duomo, where there are many musical performances of different styles.
7. Eating in Milan’s restaurants and cafeterias
One activity that is sure to be a highlight of your trip is having lunch, dinner or a snack in one of the city’s delicious restaurants. There are plenty of places to eat in Milan, including Luini’s Panzerotti (which serves delicious savouries), the All’Antico Vinaio snack bar and the Il Baretto al Baglioni restaurant.
How to save money on tickets to paid attractions in Milan?
The city of Milan is full of incredible attractions. And to see some of them, you’ll need to have your tickets in hand. So, to save a lot on your ticket purchase, our tip is to buy in advance and online, preferably all on one site.
We’ve traveled all over the world and found a great company on our last trips – this is the Milan Tickets website we used. Click and check it out for yourself. As well as being one of the biggest ticket sellers in the world, this site is very secure.
You can buy all your tickets in one place. It’s worth noting that it’s always cheaper to buy in advance, online, to avoid queues and to avoid wasting your travel time. Especially in Milan, where many tickets sell out quickly.
Save money on your trip to Milan:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Milan cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Milan. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
